Where has the courtesy gone?

[Vulcan500]

I know those fireworks can be really annoying, but it *is* just once a year, so live and let live. And please don't "call the cops" about every little annoying thing that occurs. Ever stop and think that everything that happens in an urban area, happens in a small town as well? They have better things to do. Trust me on this.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by Vulcan500

I know those fireworks can be really annoying, but it *is* just once a year, so live and let live. And please don't "call the cops" about every little annoying thing that occurs. Ever stop and think that everything that happens in an urban area, happens in a small town as well? They have better things to do. Trust me on this.

Unfortunately it's not just "once a year" anymore. It seems that even up to this week there's still explosions going on.
If they'd remove the law against me going over and dealing with it then I wouldn't call at all, I'd go take care of it but since it's a crime to do almost anything to stand up for yourself you're pretty much limited to calling aren't you?

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by jimj

If they'd remove the law against me going over and dealing with it then I wouldn't call at all, I'd go take care of it but since it's a crime to do almost anything to stand up for yourself you're pretty much limited to calling aren't you?

And there we have the lack of courtesy problem in a nutshell. When a jerk knows his neighbours can't personally do anything about him being a jerk, he has no incentive to change his ways.

It's a corollary of "an armed society is a polite society". Don't need to get that extreme in most cases, but the principle is the same. If you're disarmed by the law saying you can't get after a rude jerk, the jerk is free to continue being rude, unless and until the cops get after him, and then you're in the position of having to prove the jerk was at fault. Which isn't always practical or possible, even if the cops have nothing better to do. (And do you really want a society where the cops are so thick on the ground that they DO have time to investigate every trivial disagreement??)

[jimj]

Certainly not but I'd sure like to be able to do something other than not sleeping! 'Course I could stoop to their level in about 2 months a lite off a half stick at about 2-3 am....

[nativetogillette]

While I deeply understand your woes about your neighbors lighting off firework all hours of the night leading up to and after "Independence Day", common courtesy has become a thing of the past. I live in Gillette Wyoming with Montana being my wish for retirement someday. I have found throughout day to day life that respect for others and their property no longer exists. Whether this taking place through neighbors or constant addition of laws. I live in rural Campbell County and actually witnessed our new neighbors whizzing in my driveway only two doors up from their own toity! They have pitted up their land with torn up vehicles, shined spotlights onto our patios, and play spanish music through all hours of the night. On Independence Day while I was "blowing" my $300 worth of fireworks, they all turned on their headlights and played some sort of Spanish Anthem. All of these things happen daily with absolutely nothing that I can do about it. I suppose if one wishes to live in a neighborhood with convenaces restricting everything that you do on "your" property, then to each his own. I still would not give up the lack of light pollution, the Meadowlarks in the morning, and all else that makes rural living what we make of it.

[NorthwestNative]

Originally Posted by nativetogillette

While I deeply understand your woes about your neighbors lighting off firework all hours of the night leading up to and after "Independence Day", common courtesy has become a thing of the past. I live in Gillette Wyoming with Montana being my wish for retirement someday. I have found throughout day to day life that respect for others and their property no longer exists. Whether this taking place through neighbors or constant addition of laws. I live in rural Campbell County and actually witnessed our new neighbors whizzing in my driveway only two doors up from their own toity! They have pitted up their land with torn up vehicles, shined spotlights onto our patios, and play spanish music through all hours of the night. On Independence Day while I was "blowing" my $300 worth of fireworks, they all turned on their headlights and played some sort of Spanish Anthem. All of these things happen daily with absolutely nothing that I can do about it. I suppose if one wishes to live in a neighborhood with convenaces restricting everything that you do on "your" property, then to each his own. I still would not give up the lack of light pollution, the Meadowlarks in the morning, and all else that makes rural living what we make of it.

They sound like illegal aliens. You might want to report them, before they start drive-by shooting your house, or abduct your daughter/wife.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by NorthwestNative

They sound like illegal aliens. You might want to report them, before they start drive-by shooting your house, or abduct your daughter/wife.

I used to live in a cabin outside of Belgrade that was the occasional victim of drive-by shootings. This practice stopped abruptly when the cabin quite unexpectedly shot back.

[Stropes]

Originally Posted by Reziac

I used to live in a cabin outside of Belgrade that was the occasional victim of drive-by shootings. This practice stopped abruptly when the cabin quite unexpectedly shot back.

That's my kind of cabin. . . .self-sufficient and able to make a statement.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by Reziac

I used to live in a cabin outside of Belgrade that was the occasional victim of drive-by shootings. This practice stopped abruptly when the cabin quite unexpectedly shot back.

That is exactly the answer to the gang problem. If the locals would suck it up and pull a mass Charles Bronson (aka Death wish) on these idiots they'd leave. They don't want to die anymore than the next person so if the bangers realized that the locals can and will with great accuracy shoot back they'd high tail it. I really don't see most local police saying much if that were to happen do you? At least I'd hope they wouldn't...

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by jimj

That is exactly the answer to the gang problem. If the locals would suck it up and pull a mass Charles Bronson (aka Death wish) on these idiots they'd leave. They don't want to die anymore than the next person so if the bangers realized that the locals can and will with great accuracy shoot back they'd high tail it. I really don't see most local police saying much if that were to happen do you? At least I'd hope they wouldn't...

It worked very well during the Los Angeles riots (post Rodney King... if you've seen the full video, you'll know he earned what he got) -- the armed shopkeepers were in no danger; their unarmed neighbours had to run for the hills. I don't recall any of them having to actually shoot at anyone -- merely being armed demonstrated that if need be, they were willing and able.

BTW I've worked on a film with Bronson. Very polite and professional, and would not put up with the 12-hour days that are the industry norm. He said he'd already paid his dues and he would work 8 hours per day like a normal person, period!!